Process of making powdered zinc



July 21,, 1925.

E. H. GAUGHAN PROCESS OF MAKING POWDERED ZINC Filed Aug. 17. 1921Patented July 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- EDWARD E. GAUGHAN, OI CLEVELAND, OHIO.

PROCESS OF MAKING POWDERED ZINC." A

Application filed August 17, 1821. Serial R0. 492,924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it-known that I, EDWARD H. GAUGHAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Processes of MakingPowdered Zinc, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying rawings.

This invention relates to a process of making wdered or finely dividedzinc, and has or its general object to increase very greatly the rate ofproduction thereof as well as the proportion of zinc obtainable in suchpowdered or pulverized form from a given quantity of the molten metal. Iaccomplish these general objects in and through the process hereindescribed and y means of an apparatus shown in the drawings forming parthereof, wherein Fig. 1 represents a diagrammatic longitudinal sectionalview through such apparatus; and Fig. 2 a sectional elevation of thepulverizin or atomizing nozzle.

l)escribing first the apparatus referred to, 1 denotes generally afurnace for the melting of the zinc, said furnace supporting therein acrucible 2 and having beneath and surrounding the said crucible, acombustion chamber 3 with which there communicates a suitable fluid fuelburner 4, the furnace being rovided with an outlet flue 5 leading fromthe upper portion thereof.

At the right of the furnace 1 there is shown a collecting chamber 6 forthe atomized or powdered zinc, this collecting chamber having a bottom 7inclined down-' wardly from its receiving end toward its delivery endand provided at such delivery end with an outlet adapted to dischargethe powdered zinc into a suitable receptacle 9.

As a means for atomizing the molten zinc in the crucible 2, I preferablyemploy the following construction :-10 denotes a pipe the lower end ofwhich extends into, and in close proximity to the bottom of, thecrucible, being spaced above such bottom a sulficient distance to enablethe impurities present in an ordinary run of the zinc to rest upon thebottom without building up to a sufficient height to be drawn outthrough the said ipe. The pipe 10 is bent toward the cham r 6 and isconnected by a coupling 11 with the inner tubular member 12 of theatomizer, which is in the form of an injector. This tubular member 12has its front or delivery end 12 flared outwardly toward a surroundingsleeve member 13, which is threaded into the front end of a T-casing 14.The rear end of the member 12 is connected to the rear end of saidT-casing by means of a sleeve 15, which is threaded onto the said memberand into the rear end of said casing, its rear end with recesses 15 forthe application of a suitable tool. The central branch 16 of theT-casing has threaded thereinto a coupling 17 which carries the deliveryend of a supply pipe for compressed air, indicated at 18.

With, the parts constructed and arranged described, my process'will berealized the following manner :The zinc which as in is through the pipe10 and through the delivery end 12 of the inner member 12 of theinjector or atomizer !by the air passing about the delivery end of saidmember through the surrounding sleeve member 13. In order to prevent thesolidification of the molten zinc prior to its atomization, the airsupplied through the pipe 18 should have a temperature of about 800 F.,or somewhat higher. Flaring the outer end of the inner member 12restricts the passageway 19 provided between such end and thesurrounding sleeve and thus facilitates the atomization of the zinc, aswill be pointed out hereinafter.

It will be noted that the outer end of the sleeve member 13 projectsbeyond the corresponding end 12 of the inner member 12. This arrangementofparts results in very finely subdividing the molten zinc. If, however,the inner member 12 projects beyond the outer'member 13, the zinc issubdivided into relativelycoarse particles. By adjusting the positionsof the delivery ends of the members 12 and 13, corresponding variationsin the fineness of the zinc particles is secured.

In the practice, of my process I have used a three-quarter inch pipe forthe inner member 12 and an inch and a quarter threaded sleeve for theouter member 13. By'flaring the end of the inner member outwardly, asshown at 12, a space about one-eighth inch in width will be providedbetween the delivery end of the inner member and the surrounding member13. With a small delivery opening for thezinc, air will be emmelted inthe crucible 2 will be drawnbeing provided at ployed under a pressure ashigh as 80 pounds per square inch. \Vith a larger delivery opening,produced by the outwardly flaring end 12 of the inner injector meinher,a lower air pressure may be employedsay about pounds per square inch;and, with this low pressure, a very fine subdivision of the zinc isaccomplished.

The pulverized or powdered zinc is delivered upon the inclined floor 7and thence may be conducted by gravity or by any appropriate movabledevice to the outlet openy the practice of my process I am enabledgreatly to increase the rapidity of manufacture of the powdered zinc;also greatly to increase the efliciency of the operation, convertingfrom 90% upward of the molten zine into the powdered or pulverized form.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The processof powdering or pulverizing zinc which consists inconducting molten zine through a tube and to the delivery end of thelatter by means of an injector having a delivery portion surrounding thedelivery end of said tube and to which a heated fluid undenpressure issup lied, and varying the relative positions of t e delivery ends of thepassing through the outer member of such injector and surrounding suchdelivery end, whereby the zinc will be atomized.

4. The process of powdering or pulverizing zinc which consists indelivering molten zinc in an outwardly flaring direction from thedelivery end of the inner member of an injector, into a heated fluidunder pressure passing through the outer member of such injector andsurrounding such deliver end, and varying the relative positions of t edelivery ends of said members, thereby to vary the size of the zincparticles produced.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

EDWVARD H. GAUGHAN.

